Overview of wellbeing and policy : evidence for action

Abstract

This chapter reviews developments in wellbeing in recent years, spanning international and national policy efforts and academic research. It briefly reviews the state of play on wellbeing definition and measurement, the determinants of wellbeing, and insights on the design of policy and interventions for wellbeing, noting the need for a survey of policy interventions to elicit the lessons learned. The chapter provides an overview of the key insights on income, work, health, family, altruism and empathy, age, gender, and education (included in Part I of the book); on housing, environment, crime, democracy, migration, religion, digital technology and art, culture and creativity (included in Part II); and on the experiences of Bhutan, New Zealand, Finland, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Malta (included in Part III of the book). Together, these chapters offer evidence of the diverse factors that impact human wellbeing, of how public policy can influence these factors, as well as a diverse range of wellbeing policy experiences on a country-by-country basis. It concludes with an appeal to consider the actionable points resulting from the volume. The chapter is supported by an Appendix of cheat-sheets for policy-makers.